Spot handles the madhouse well. Limited outdoor seating under umbrellas, and it's first come, first served from the Yelp waitlist, depending on preference so gauging the wait is still a little up in the air, but in the end, everything was worth it. She had a fantastic bacon cheeseburger with absolutely killer fries we all picked at. Exceptional local beer list, and the lamb french dip on locally baked baguette is exceptional. The lamb may look well done, but it was tender as hell and the au jus is exquisitely seasoned. Awesome sandwich. Kids loved their cavatappi with butter and loads of parmesan. Servers are prompt, esp on the beer refills (hello!), and even in the most outrageously busy times, they never seemed flustered. Can't wait to revisit! read more

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On our first night in Stowe, after a flight across the country, we were grateful to find our way to The Bench (recommended by the front desk guy at our inn). We were seated at a hi-top in the very friendly bar. I started with a specialty cocktail -- don't remember the name, but it had gin, cranberry, and just a splash of simple syrup -- super refreshing, and not too sweet. For dinner, the server recommended the special fried soft shell crab sandwich (available only in season, she said). Wow, so tasty, and with that "Is it really Ok to eat the soft shell?" crisp). The mac and cheese was creamy and tasty. My partner enjoyed the truffle oil and cheese flatbread, delicious with that earthy mushroom and truffle flavor. read more

The Bench - Fried soft shell crab sandwich with Mac and cheese - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

Best buffalo Mac and cheese ever! Wings are also phenomenal! If you order take out the close it down pretty early but it's still worth it.

Friendly service, nice atmosphere. Great fries! Vegetarian options at reasonable cost.and an otherwise great menu. Close to Stowe village for an after meal walk are round. read more

Pizza was bleh missing something Burger ok big bun was good Max and cheese really really good Skip pizza fyi read more

The Bench - Pizza not really tasty cheese tasted like dominos skip thi s! - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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Very easy to see why they're so packed! Good experience overall, with one hiccup but they did more than enough to take care of us. Great food, drinks were tasty and served expeditiously. Service was great! Regarding the hiccup, our entrees came out before the appetizers, which is totally cool and not a big deal because the food tasted great regardless. But they were still kind enough to compensate us for that. (Bonus star for that, it was much appreciated.) This place came highly recommended to us and it did not disappoint. Overall, we left full and happy. read more

The Bench - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

I thought this was a pretty good meal in Stowe. A lot of places seem to close earlier for dinner, so this was one of the few options available at the time. Like most places in Stowe, there was a wait for a table. Fortunately we were able to grab a spot at the bar to cut down on the wait. A lot sounded good, but we split their kale Caesar and margherita pizza. Both were done well and hit the spot. I especially liked the kale Caesar, as the kale was a nice twist from the standard Caesar salad. This is a place I would try again if I come back to the area. read more

We dined here about a month ago and it has still been at the top of our mind. We sat at the pizza counter and it was fun to watch the food being made directly in front of you. The scallops were absolutely incredible. I would very highly recommend these - the best sear I've ever gotten on scallops. The poutine was also delicious. read more

The Bench - Poutine - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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My review is a little late lol, nevertheless here it is. Coming from CA to VT for the holidays in December, I was freezing the day I came across this great restaurant tucked in the Heart of Stowe, Vt. The most comforting and delicious hot chocolate made this place memorable. Also their steak is amazing !! Mac & cheese was great too. My bf and I LOVED the food. But my favorite was the soup! It was a great experience and the vibe of the place made it better ; rustic and cozy read more

The Bench - Soup - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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We hav visited The Bench twice and haven't been disappointed yet! I regretfully forgot to write a review during our first visit in 2019 but we really enjoyed the food, so when we were in the area this year we wanted to check it out again. There was a bit of a wait as it seemed like they limited their dining room due to either COVID restrictions or staff shortages, but we put our name in and waited in the car. The wait was a lot shorter than we were told, so yay us! We grabbed a drink infused with CBD (which I noticed was very common in VT) which was really tasty and dove into the menu. I grabbed when I had last time, which was buffalo chicken Mac and cheese with a side of ranch and my bf grabbed the lamb sandwich off of a recommendation. My Mac was good, very cheesy but since it was made with real/fresh cheese it was a great flavor. I loved that I could fish out some buffalo chicken and dip it in the ranch, so it almost felt like I had 2 different dishes. His sandwich was INCREDIBLE, I highly recommend it to anyone eyeing it on the menu. It had such a depth of flavor and au jus was such a great accompaniment. We split our meals so we could each try each others and I honestly would've had all his sandwich. That's how much I loved it. So. good. For dessert we tried the apple turnover with ice cream. A really nice bite at the end our meal. Nice and warm, great balance of fruit to pastry and of course a great scoop of ice cream to melt over it. It was a really tasty meal and we will be back the next time we visit. It feels like a staple for us at this point! read more

The Bench - Apple turnover! - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

Such a great spot for lunch or dinner! We got the Caesar wrap, pulled pork and kids grilled cheese - everyone loved their meal. Best fries too! read more

From the first face at the hostess stand to the waitress to the manager, everyone was so nice. The food was delicious (salmon mean, two different pizzas, and a blue cheese burger, oh and a cookie dessert). The atmosphere was wonderful. And the cocktails were spot on. Would definitely visit again! read more

Food was super yummy! Bartender was amazing and friendly during our wait! Restaurant was busy but worth it! Glad I went! read more

The Bench - Banh mi - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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Food was good but not great. With a little more attention to taste I would have given it 5 stars. We had the sweet potato salad which was good. I had the salmon which comes in a skillet - the salmon was delicious but there was so much teriyaki on everything else that it got somewhat nauseating. The salmon that was in the salmon tacos were really good but the tortillas were cold and not very tasty and all that were in the tacos was the salmon and arugula with a little salsa - very plain. The waitress was lovely very good. read more

Their food was so good, not dry at all. Staff were friendly and pretty quick with the food especially since I had a lot of family with me(19). Everything was honestly perfect and I would definitely recommend to others! The place itself is very casual the seats are a little smallish but nothing to bad. read more

The Bench - Blue cheese and bacon burger with fried egg added on top with side of salt n' vinegar fries - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

I wish we could give 10 stars because this place is OUTSTANDING. It was so nice we ate here twice!l, and I neverrrr repeat eat. The wait can be long, but head to the bar and snag a drink! We actually ended up eating in the bar each time bc we were able to snag seats. Everything we at - steak, Mac & cheese, and nachos were insanely good. Try the nachos! It's like nothing you've ever had before. Do yourself a favor and go read more

The Bench - Nachos - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

4.5 stars but since yelp cannot give me that option I'll round to 5. It's a popular dinner spots and reservations are necessary during covid. Big parking lot. Extensive drink menu including cocktails, beers and ciders. Of the places I visited on this trip, their beer list was the most extensive. Burrata appetizer and ny strip steak excellent. Meatloaf pretty good. The only criticism would be the service was a bit slow especially considering you are only given 90 minutes at your table. Will return. read more

so delicious!! one of our favorite spots in the area- everything was amazing. can't recommend enough! read more

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The service was great and the food was amazing. Fresh salads, perfectly grilled steak, and buttery salmon. Delicious.

This place is hopping. Had a45 minute wait but it was worth it. We got the Homemade ravioli and the fried chicken sandwich. Both were great!! Garlic bread on the ravioli was burnt though and the mixed greens salad was very bland and 90% spinach. Service was fair with little to no conversation from the hostess or waitress. Not super friendly but not rude either. read more

The Bench - Fried chicken sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

Great service & cool location. Watching them cook in the brick oven while sitting at the bar is fun. The pizza was really good. Love the cocktail menu & great beer selection read more

The Bench - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

Worthwhile casual pizza place, good competition to the stalwart Piecasso pizza: one our party was gluten intolerant, and he loved his pizza. I liked the pulled pork and pickle pizza. read more

We were undecided on a place for dinner, but chose The Bench and so glad we did. Everything was delicious - buffalo Mac and cheese and 1/2 rack of ribs. The buffalo Mac was perhaps my husband's favorite and the sauce and rub for the ribs was very delicious- and the meat fell right off the bone. Extraordinary and highly recommend! read more

My husband and I planned a trip to Vermont to celebrate his 40th birthday and stayed in Stowe. After a long drive, we wanted a dinner near our rental, so we had dinner at The Bench and it was by far my most favorite meal of our entire trip. We arrived around 7 PM on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was packed and aromas from the kitchen were delicious. We were advised that the wait time would be about a half an hour (it ended up being closer to 20 minutes, even better). I decided to skip a drink at the bar and just wait until we got our table. They put us on the Yelp waiting list and I spent a good portion of the wait time trying to figure out how to get the live update on our wait time, which didn't work for me, so it seems like the restaurant no longer offer that check in ahead option. Although it was a warm evening, an outdoor table was available first so we took it. My husband is a craft beer fan and I'm a cocktail fan, and both of us were happy with the tap lists. I love spicy cocktails and anything fermented or pickled, so I opted for the "Spicy Trail" which was delicious-it was spicy and funky but perfectly balanced and delicious. We decided to share the scallops appetizer, which was a great decision. The scallops were perfectly cooked and seasoned, with an impeccable sear on one side. They were juicy, sweet, and translucent. I would happily have doubled the portion and eating it as an entrée. My husband remarked that it's incredibly difficult to get the scallops dry enough to get that perfect sear on them, and I was impressed that they were perfectly cooked. The salty pork belly perfectly complemented the sweet scallops, and I was quite tempted to lick the Yuzu curd off the plate. For entrées, I was torn between the duck and the salmon, which I overheard our waitress tell several other tables were their most popular entrées. I opted for the duck since I never cook it at home. It was flavorful and well cooked, although I wish the skin was a bit crisper. The portion was plentiful and I took half of it home. I don't know what the chef did with the parsnip, but it was the best parsnip I've ever had, and I don't like parsnips. The cook on the vegetables was perfect so combined with the juices from the duck and the orange sauce in the pan, it was overall a wonderful dish. I could've eaten an entire pound of the potatoes except I ran out of stomach space. My husband ordered a burger and I took a bite and it was good, though I wished it had a bit more seasoning. But it was cooked properly, juicy, and well-made. The waitress walked past us with a beautiful pink cocktail, which was the Lily's Hill, and I subbed in vodka for the gin. It was a tasty cocktail but incredibly sweet, and I much preferred the first drink I had. If you like sweet cocktails, then it would be perfect. It was fresh tasting and an interesting combination of ingredients but after two cocktails, I had to hand over the keys to my husband as they make good, strong drinks. Unfortunately we had no room for dessert but with an outstanding cocktail, appetizer, and entrée, we left quite happy. Service was attentive and friendly. If we are ever in this area of Vermont again, I would 100% dine here again. read more

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Loved this place! I stopped by here for lunch when I was in the area. I'm so glad that I stopped here! I absolutely LOVED the salad (with beets, arugula, etc.) and the sausage pizza. They were both incredibly fresh and delicious! I would totally come back here again. I wish I lived closer to this place so I could try more of their food! I also tried their mac and cheese; it was super cheesy and yummy! read more

Excellent service! Great menu selection. Casual, friendly atmosphere. Open later than most restaurants in the area.

Location: great We went around 3pm, thankfully not much crowd and we could sit outside without much crowding. We ordered alchemist heady topper and ginger ale. For food we ordered the Poutine - great but lot of cheese Chicken banh mi- awesome Fried chicken sandwich with home fries- awesome Food was incredible Their portions are huge so be mindful when you order. We did the mistake of ordering too much but the food was incredible. The bathroom was clean too. read more

The Bench - Chicken Banh Mi sandwich - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

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Nachos were a big hit with our group. They are definitely not your average nachos, but the flavors work so well. Both flavors of wings that we had were very good. The dry rub is a little spicy. The lime flavored ones were the table's favorite due to the unique flavors. For meals we got: FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH, CHICKEN CAESAR WRAP with tenders instead of grilled chicken, and BUFFALO MAC & CHEESE. The Buffalo Mac and cheese was very yummy. Lots of chicken on top and a lot of Buffalo sauce. Also, their Walk in process was perfect. For a group of 4 on a Saturday night we were quoted 45mins-1 hour. LOVE the love waitlist viewing on the phone. We hung out at the bar and had a few beers. read more

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The slider and mac & cheese starters were perfect! Such good beer and great service too!! read more

The Bench - Slider and mac & cheese. - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont

loved the atmosphere here very chill! food was amazing we ordered the fish and chips the tacos and a house salad where we sat we could see the cooking going on at the wood oven great food coming out of that! the beers were good but I really don't no much about craft beers so I would like to see a better menu with a description of the beers! oh and the staff was awesome and friendly! read more

Stopped in here last minute on our trip and so glad we did. The service was outstanding, the food was amazing (I had the meatloaf), the restaurant is a nice setting. It was quick and easy parking. read more

Good drinks, good food! The Maple chili lime wings and buffalo Mac and cheese are great! Nice staff quick service. read more

Food service and ambiance was all great would definitely go back !!!everyone was very friendly

We have been roadtripping through Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Dinner plans have not been the greatest. We happened on this gem of a restaurant because it's 1/4 mile from our motel. What a find! You know that it's good when the parking lot is full. We were told our wait time would be 45 to 60 minutes. They got us in at about 45 minutes. The food and service was exceptional, well worth the wait! The atmosphere was relaxed with a New England charm. The mussels in curry sauce was phenomenal! Never had mussels prepared that way, delicious! The wood oven pizza was great, perfectly sauced with delicious toppings. The pepperoni pizza is not your ordinary pepperoni pizza. The hot honey adds a little extra flavor. We had great, friendly service from both our server and other staff. Great dining experience, highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Loved it! We were visiting from CA and enjoyed the variety on the menu and food quality read more

Agree with Alice H. Food is bland - but that's generally an issue throughout Vermont. Got the Bench burger- asked them to add the horseradish mayo from another sandwich. Without it- def very bland. Nachos were too sweet- did not enjoy. Fries were not enjoyable either - over fried and too salty. Excellent service- very nice and fast. Interior is well designed and very accommodating for families. read more

Jen was terrific and the food was great! We had the mac & cheese, scallops and dry rub wings. The Brussel sprouts with the scallops were amazing and the wings had so much flavor! Highly recommend! read more

The Bench reminds me of the typical chain eatery- TGIF's, Chili's, Applebees. They have that type of fare here- burgers, ribs, other types of sandwiches, wings- and pizza. I'd say their food varies from being a bit better than these other places in some ways, and a bit worse. Depends on what you get. For example, I had the Bench burger- a fairly large (6 oz?) burger with cheddar, caramelized onions, lettuce, and a special sauce (think thousand island with a bit of heat!). The burger was cooked perfectly- pink in the middle, not over cooked and dried out. Toppings were good. And I enjoyed the spiciness of the sauce. All in all- a five star effort. However, my side of Mac and cheese was a bit lacking. It was bland and almost tasteless. I wouldn't have known there was any cheese in the dish unless I had read the menu. Quite disappointing- especially considering the association of cheddar cheese with the state of Vermont!!! I'd certainly return - I want to try the ribs and wings. If you're looking for decent and familiar food, the Bench is a good place to pull up a seat at. read more

The food was amazing! Definitely try the fried chicken sandwich, duck fat fries, and kale Caesar salad! The music was also amazing!

Three and a half stars. On a Monday evening-40+ minute wait for a table. Service was friendly, and competent. We ordered 2 cocktails. They both were loaded with ice, and the alcohol (maple rum) was non existent. I understand that sometimes you can't taste the alcohol-but the absence of any "buzz" confirmed my suspicions, that the bartender purposely shorted our drinks. Poutine was ok. The hand cut fries were cooked beautifully; the sage gravy was very sage-y. I would have personally preferred a rich beef gravy. They were very skimpy on the cheese curds. 4 large pieces of curds, for an entire plate of fries. A real poutine has cheese curds tossed throughout; this was a pale imitation of the Quebecois delicacy. Lastly, we both ordered chicken pot pie. 90% of the dish is mashed potatoes. I had about 3 small shreds of chicken in my entire dish. Besides the biscuit-the dish was actually pretty bland and underseasoned. Maybe we were just cranky after waiting so long for the table...or maybe this place just isn't all that it's cracked up to be. read more

The Bench - Pizza Near Me - Stowe, Vermont